Tuesday, November 15 2011
Wonder Woman’s Secret Santa
Brian Azzarello, the architect of the New 52 Wonder Woman, is definitely on point with his vision of a Wonder Woman who tackles the issues of the social structures that both limit and liberate us.
Monday, November 14 2011
The Tragic Hero in “Penguin: Pain and Prejudice”
In the beautiful, lovingly-realized world of Penguin: Pain and Prejudice writer Gregg Hurwitz and artist Szymon Kudranski unfold a Batman that is little more than a bully and a Penguin who heroically rises above the perpetual torment of his childhood.
Thursday, November 10 2011
Mr. Snyder, Ms. Watson and the Devil’s Haircut
It's not at all about Abby Arcane's sudden reappearance in the closing pages of last month's Swamp Thing. It's about the strange jazz of Beck's Odelay, and the siren call of getting back to normal.
Tuesday, November 8 2011
The Anti-Victimology Dan Slott Uses to Reclaim Spider-Man
In "Boss Battle", the concluding chapter of "Spider Island", Dan Slott reclaims Spider-Man not from cynical naysayers, but from the limitations we've unquestioningly come to accept about the character.
Friday, November 4 2011
‘Habibi’: Orientalism for Dummies
This ought to be a landmark in the development of the graphic novel as a serious form that tackles heavyweight subjects, alongside Art Spiegelman's Maus, Joe Sacco's Palestine and Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis.
Thursday, November 3 2011
“Spaceman” Reveals the True Horror at the Heart of Dystopian Fiction
In Brian Azzarello's heartrendingly insightful Spaceman, a true heart of horror is revealed. Society doesn't breakdown because it fails. It breaks down because it succeeds.
Tuesday, November 1 2011
The Sixth Gun’s Thrilling and Scary World
Horror-Western The Sixth Gun forges ahead with its 16th issue, casting light on the backstory of the mystic guns themselves. But, with 15 issues published, how much more could this Weird Western yarn have left? Plenty.
Monday, October 31 2011
How Popular Culture Helps keep us Human in “Key of Z”
In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, or any emergency for that matter, or heck, even life in general, we take comfort in various forms of escapism, our popculture. In the case of the surviving humans in Key of Z, sports and music provide that need.
Wednesday, October 26 2011
Un-Calendar Girls: Swierczynski, Saiz and the Real Women of “Birds of Prey”
Strong characterization and needing to escape a criminal history are just two of the elements that distinguish Duane Swierczynski's Birds of Prey as a superb (and incidentally) feminist drama.
Tuesday, October 25 2011
Hard Scifi at the Speed of Hypertext in ‘Flash #2’
We didn't need an industry legend the caliber of Will Eisner to remind us that comics no longer plug into our everyday lives. But in a single, swift blow, Flash creative team Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato overturn more than 60 years of comics ghettoization.
Monday, October 24 2011
Building the Gleaming Tower in ‘Batman #2’
Batman #2 marks a triumphal return to the kind of storytelling that graced the book's pages of old. Detective stories, flat-out action and the human drama of life in the big city of Gotham. Snyder's talent lies in crafting these genre into an engaging tale in the space of just 22 pages.
Sunday, October 23 2011
‘Daybreak’: Zombies, One More Time…
We're very nearly on the verge of being overwhelmed by zombies—in more ways than one.
Thursday, October 20 2011
Hill and Wheeler on Encountering Grandpa
Little Golden Books have been around since 1942. They originally sold for 25 cents and are now considered classic staples of childhood. Grandpa Won't Wake Up is a parody of the Little Golden Books that have filled children’s bookshelves for decades.
Tuesday, October 18 2011
Fabian Nicieza’s Crafting of the Art of Blame in ‘Legion Lost’
A month ago you needed to add Fabian Nicieza and Pete Woods' first issue of Legion Lost to the very large maybe pile. But this month, with the hype of DC's company-wide reboot having simmered some, that's all changed.
Monday, October 17 2011
OMAC #2 illustrates what can be achieved when the bar is lowered
Near the beginning of OMAC #2, a minor character named Sarge Steel spars against three training robots that he’s probably fought countless times before. He defeats them easily, but he isn’t proud. Instead, he poses a question, which seems an appropriate sentiment for this review. “C’mon, this the best we can do?”
Thursday, October 6 2011
Why “Brilliant” Shines Like a National Guitar
In Brilliant Brian Michael Bendis traces the compelling drama of genius-level college undergrads defeating cultural inertia and the deep and abiding connection between science fiction and science fact.
Wednesday, October 5 2011
Absurdity Writ Small: ‘Mark Twain’s Autobiography 1910-2010’
In his new book, the bright light Michael Kupperman has shown so readily in the comic strip form dims considerably for being written into prose.
Tuesday, October 4 2011
‘All Star Western’ Is at Home, Back East
In a longstanding tradition of using company-wide shakeups to offer a new and engaging visions of Jonah Hex, All Star Western offers perhaps the sincerest reboot of the entire New 52 run.
Monday, October 3 2011
“Red Hood & the Outlaws” is Editor’s Choice of DC’s New 52
Red Hood & the Outlaws is the pick of DC's relaunch. Here's why.
Friday, September 30 2011
The Flash’s Long Road Back to Existence
With the tragic events of "Flashpoint" behind him, what is Barry Allen's reason for moving forward? Co-writers Francis Manapul and Brian Bucellato offer an engaging portrait of a hero redefining himself.
